Mac Henderson, vice president of the Troy Central Little League, right, shows prospective players how to catch a baseball with a glove during the league's registration and player placement day Saturday at Frank Welch Memorial Field. (Jeff Couch / The Record )

TROY -- For Peggy Kownack, revamping the Troy Central Little League organization isn't just about having a place where kids can play baseball; it's also about bringing the community together in a way it hasn't in years.

On Saturday, Frank Welch Memorial Field was buzzing with activity and anticipation. While some were running skill drills, others were learning how to hit a baseball or make a catch with a glove. Volunteers could be seen cleaning up the pavilion and clearing the field of brush left behind by previous leaders' lack of upkeep.

Reorganizing the league has been a labor of love for Kownack, who said its membership had declined to just 15 members. After Mary Anne Egan retired as the league's president and a new board of directors was ushered in, Kownack jumped on the opportunity. And while she's fully taken hold of the organization's reins, she's the first to admit she is getting a lot of help.

"This has really been the whole community coming together to make sure this continues in North Central," Kownack said. "It's phenomenal. The support being shown across the board from the alumni of the central little league, the family members of the alumni, the kids in the community and the parents of kids playing in other leagues are donating cleats and gloves."

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She added that several businesses and organizations have already stepped up to the plate to help out, including E. Stewart Jones, Pfeil Hardware, First Playable Productions and Local Care Midwifery. Twin Town donated 12 bags complete with baseball equipment, while Collar City Painting helped to prepare and repaint the entire complex.

Kownack hopes that other businesses and community members at large will also pitch in with contributions. Donation categories include a league sponsorship for a $1,500 donation, a dugout sponsorship, which would help pay for equipment and uniforms, for $750, a concession sponsorship to assist with the cost of revitalizing the concession stand for $500, and an outfield sponsorship, acknowledged with a sign in the outfield, for $250. An individual donation of $50 will cover the costs for two children to play.

The league's Vice President, Mac Henderson, who has been involved with the organization since 1985, was walking around the field with a smile Saturday as he watched approximately 30 kids running around.

"It's all just a blessing," he said, adding the field had been absent of some much-needed TLC up until now. "[Troy Central Little League] is very important for us, especially for the people in the neighborhood. It's important for the kids to have something to do."

Henderson said it seems that almost half of the neighborhood's residents don't know each other. He hopes the league's newfound energy will bring families out to meet, socialize and get to know one another, maybe even over a soda and a hot dog.

"It's about building [a] community relationship," Henderson said. "We want to bring smiles to people's faces."

Henderson said he owes a lot of gratitude to the people who helped the league reach its current state. He thanked other baseball organizations for their contributions, in particular the Rensselaer Little League, which donated bleachers, along with the East Greenbush Little League, even the Devil Cats travel team, managed by Jack Dwyer.

With the revitalization of the Frank Welch Memorial Field, Dwyer said his team will finally have a field to call home. After Councilman Rodney Wiltshire, D-At Large, put him in touch with Kownack, Dwyer was able to assist with getting its infield rototilled and its fence line cleaned up. He was at the field Saturday with a broom, helping to sweep out the pavilion.

"This has a lot of potential," Dwyer said. "Seeing these kids playing baseball and having fun is what it's all about."

Kownack said registrations are still being accepted and that children from South Troy are also welcome to join the league. The registration fee is $25 for the first child and $15 per sibling.